OREANDA-NEWS.  September 27, 2012. This was stated by the head of the Association of Agricultural Produces at a press conference, where the reaction of landlords on the recent increase in prices for petrol and diesel was covered.

According to Alexandr Slusari, farmers spend over 30% of their costs to buy petrol and diesel. “The raise in the prices will lead to higher prime cost of agricultural goods. This will weaken the competitiveness of Moldovan farmers " Alexandr Slusari said.

To maintain a sales level in the domestic and international market growers will not raise prices for their goods, he has said. Unlike Moldova, prices for petrol dropped on September, 19; they are also lower in Ukraine than in Moldova. Besides, in Ukraine farmers receive greater amounts of backing, which makes them more competitive, Alexandr Slusari has stated. Representatives of the National Federation of Farmers of Moldova, the UniAgroProtect Association and the AGROinform Federation consider the raise in prices for fuel groundless.

Earlier ANRE made the similar statement but explained it had no leverage to influence on the prices. In this connection, representatives of farmers demand for ANRE within two months to check if the raise has been reasonable, to develop a new methodology of the pricing for primary kinds of fuel. They also ask to debar offshore companies from import of fuel to Moldova and to calculate the markup on the basis of Platts Mediterranean prices instead of prices declared by importers at customs. “At present, the markup is 10% regardless a number of offshore companies the fuel has passed through" Alexandr Slusari states.

Besides, farmers refer ANRE to the international practice providing lower prices for agricultural sector. This measure is aimed at backing the branch and as farmers see it, the rebate on fuel for Moldovan farmers has to be at least 20%. If within few weeks the farmers do not see any progress in this matter, they will start protests, Alexandr Slusari has declared.